USA withdraws B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford after suspected terrorism

The USA says it has withdrawn its twelve B-1 bombers from the British air base RAF Fairford. This came a week after the arrest of several men suspected of having prepared terrorist attacks there, a US Department of Defense representative said on Sunday (local time). A Pentagon spokesman said in an email that for operational security reasons the move could not be confirmed in real time. However, it is now clear that all US bombers stationed at the base northwest of London have returned to their home bases in the USA. The Wall Street Journal newspaper had previously reported on the withdrawal due to security concerns.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Wednesday that there were “strong signs” that Iran was involved in the alleged attack plans. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also referred to the “hands of a foreign actor”. The government in Tehran rejected the allegations as unfounded and summoned the British ambassador. The Iranian embassy in London had previously condemned such speculation as propaganda. The British government had allowed the USA to use the bombers to attack Iranian missile sites from which ships in the Strait of Hormuz had been attacked. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard therefore described the base as a legitimate target in July.

The previous weekend, British police arrested five British citizens from London between the ages of 23 and 25 on suspicion of terrorism and explosives offenses. A local farmer alerted authorities after she saw masked men and three white vans heading towards the airfield in western England. The police then cordoned off the area within a 400 meter radius and evacuated residents from 85 houses.

According to a person familiar with the matter, in addition to a connection to Iran, investigations are also being conducted into a Russian sabotage operation or an Islamist background. British Defense Minister Wes Streeting had pointed out a general threat from Iran. The US advised its citizens in the UK to be cautious. Great Britain had already raised the terror alert level to the second highest level in April.